Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner with an external surface incorporates a cyclonic separating apparatus that includes a plurality of cyclones arranged in parallel with one another. The cyclones each have a tapered body with an outside wall and are arranged so that at least a part of each outside wall forms part of the external surface of the vacuum cleaner.

1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising a body having an external surface, a suction inlet on the body for conveying dirty air from outside the vacuum cleaner into the body and a motor configured to draw the dirty air into the body through the suction inlet, the body comprising a plurality of cyclones arranged in parallel to one another, each cyclone including a tapering body having an outside wall, wherein at least a part of each outside wall forms part of the external surface of the vacuum cleaner. 
   
   
     2. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cyclones are equi-angularly arranged about an axis of the cyclonic separating apparatus. 
   
   
     3. A vacuum cleaner having an external surface and incorporating cyclonic separating apparatus comprising a plurality of cyclones arranged in parallel to one another, each cyclone including a tapering body having an outside wall, wherein at least a part of each outside wall forms part of the external surface of the vacuum cleaner, wherein the cyclones are equi-angularly arranged about an axis of the cyclonic separating apparatus, and wherein each cyclone has an axis which is inclined towards the axis of the cyclonic separating apparatus. 
   
   
     4. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the cyclonic separating apparatus comprises at least one further cyclone arranged in parallel to the plurality of cyclones, the further cyclone having a tapering body with an outside wall which does not form a part of the external surface of the vacuum cleaner. 
   
   
     5. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the further cyclone is arranged closer to the axis of the cyclonic separating apparatus than the plurality of cyclones. 
   
   
     6. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 ,  2  or  3 , wherein each tapering body is frusto-conical in shape. 
   
   
     7. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 ,  2  or  3 , wherein all of the cyclones are substantially the same size and shape. 
   
   
     8. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the cyclonic separating apparatus comprises an upstream cyclone having an outer wall, at least a part of which forms a part of the external surface of the vacuum cleaner. 
   
   
     9. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the outer wall of the upstream cyclone is substantially cylindrical in shape. 
   
   
     10. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of cyclones arranged in parallel to one another are located wholly outside the outer wall of the upstream cyclone. 
   
   
     11. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , further comprising at least one further cyclone arranged in parallel to the plurality of cyclones, the further cyclone having a tapering body with an outside wall which does not form a part of the external surface of the vacuum cleaner. 
   
   
     12. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the further cyclone is arranged closer to the axis of the cyclonic separating apparatus than the plurality of cyclones. 
   
   
     13. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , further comprising an upstream cyclone having an outer wall, at least a part of which forms a part of the external surface of the vacuum cleaner. 
   
   
     14. A vacuum cleaner having an external surface and incorporating cyclonic separating apparatus comprising a plurality of cyclones arranged in parallel to one another, each cyclone including a tapering body having an outside wall, wherein at least a part of each outside wall forms part of the external surface of the vacuum cleaner, wherein each cyclone has a lower end and an upper end, and wherein the lower end is larger than the upper end. 
   
   
     15. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the upper end of each cyclone opens into a common collection area.